ARCHIVED ARTICLES
“Winner Gets Me” Contest Winner is Regina Pagles
We have our winner. Regina Pagles will either be coming to my studio for a 2 day one-on-one or I will be going to hers. http://reginapaglesphotography.com/#/0 http://www.flickr.com/photos/reginapagles/ Regina lives in a very small town, Springdale, Utah: Population...
The Myths About Creativity – And The Consequences
Have you ever heard... That creative people are weird? That creativity is best created in a group? That creative people are sloppy, messy and disorganized? That creative people are always coming up with cool, but ultimately silly ideas? That only "creative" people can...
10 Simple Ideas for Creating a Sustainable Photography Business
It's one thing to get a shoot now and then, and another to create and sustain a commercial photography business. Here are a couple of thoughts for you to consider. 1. Get a hard edge to criticising your own work and make sure it is living up to your standards. Getting...
Changing Levels and Why Plateaus Are Dangerous
I started photography a long time ago. Longer than many of you, and not as long as some of you, but it was back when motor drives cost $5K, and we only printed black and white. On Fiber. Much of what I learned then has sustained me for decades, and I loved every...
Project 52, 2011 Edition, Comes to An End
Last evening critique for Project 52, 2011 Edition. Tonite was a special night. It was a year ago that we had our first meeting and what a year it has been. Some who started with us left for reasons of life and love. A few just evaporated into the ethos… and that was...
Project 52 Photographer Greg Kindred
Meet Greg Kindred. "I found project 52 January 3, 2011 as I read about the project I knew immediately that I would participate. As the assignments were given out I was challenged right away with photographing a stranger. Pros shoot strangers every day, but in my...
Project 52 Assignment Three is Posted
Assignment Three is a simple still life shot. "First – there is a difference between product shots and still life. Product shots show, well, products – tech or cooking utensils or cameras. A still life can be made up of items that are not for sale, but instead are...
Project 52 PRO Launched Today. Building a Business in Photography
Project 52 started last year as a way for photographers to get critiques and assignment in a real world setting. In a no BS arena of commercial insight and realistic assignments. On many forums discussions range from what kind of lights do I need to the best prices on...
BYU Gymnastics Calendar Shoot – BTS Video
This is a great little BTS series from the good folks up at BYU. Shooting dancers and gymnast is one of my favorite subjects, and they approached this with a very unique concept... gymnasts and water. "The idea was to highlight the shapes of the gymnasts performing...
Project 52 Photographer Greg Pastuzyn
Meet Greg Pastuzyn from New Jersey. Greg attended my last New York Workshop, and hosted one of our Wednesday evening chats from his home. Greg has been working with Project 52 for a while now. "I was introduced to Project 52 through Don's blog Lighting Essentials. At...
Preparing a Game Plan for 2012
Looking to start the year off right? Great. We all feel a little bit of a spring in the step and some empowerment at the first of the year. So let's get a game plan going... something not as fleshed out as a marketing plan, and not as whimpy as a resolution. A plan....
Project 52 Photographer Charles Tibbs
Charles Tibbs, Phoenix photographer weighs in on his experience with Project 52. "First I want to thank Don for taking so much time out of his busy life to teach and mentor us for an entire year, this just tells you how passionate he is about what he does. Where do I...
Feature Article in Rangefinder: July 2010
My friend Bill Millios wrote a nice article on me and the good folks at Rangefinder ran it in their prestigious July "Portait" issue. Bill and I chatted down in Mexico during a workshop, and his piece accurately reflected my teaching beliefs, as well as other thoughts...
Take This Photograph, It’s FREE! Free is GOOD!
So I get a tweet 'alerting' me to this interesting argument. This photographer says his photograph is not free: From PetaPixel: "As someone mentioned, THIS single photo didn’t cost me $6,612, but if you wanted to create it, from scratch, that is what is involved. So I...
Project 52 Photographer James Eisele
Say hello to James Eisele, a 'project 52' photographer in Florida. "While project 52 was challenging, I didn't feel it was overwhelming, even though it frequently forced me out of my comfort zone with assignments that were different than anything I'd shot previously....
Macro 4/3 Cameras Get A Pair of New, Fast Primes
These look pretty cool. "As of now, photographers with Olympus and Panasonic Micro Four Thirds cameras and Sony NEX-series cameras have the choice to couple a pair of sharp Sigma F2.8 primes to the go-everywhere cameras. These two prime lenses for Micro Four Thirds...
Project 52 Photographer Terri Jacobson
Photographer Terri Jacobson checks in with her assessment of Project 52. "Only 52 photos In the beginning I was a point and shoot kinda girl. All I ever needed was the little green box on my Canon dial. In 2010 I began the 365 photo a day project completing it...
Judges Announced for the Wacky Winner Gets Me Contest
We had twenty five entries to the wacky contest. I have four intrepid judges working on the judging process now. Selina Maitreya Photographer Consultant Extraordinaire Site Rosh Sillars Photographer / Social Media Expert Site Seshu Photographer, Entrepreneur Site...
Project 52 Photographer David Price
David Price checks in with this assessment of Project 52. "My thanks to Don Giannatti, whom I found as Wizwow on one of the lighting forums, and followed him to Lighting Essentials. What a terrific resource! When I first heard about Project 52, I wasn’t certain what...
Meet the NEW “Essentials for Photographers”
Lighting Essentials had run its course, name wise. It was not about lighting as much as it was about photography in general. Commercial photography specifically. And the name simply didn't leave room for more options for posting. There is a reason to the change up,...
Project 52 Photographer Tucker Joenz
Today we meet Tucker Joenz, a Project 52 alumni. "Project 52 challenges... A big challenge for me was getting back to the basics of lighting and learning how to apply that to create commercial images that will really captivate my audience, express the feelings that...
Project 52 Photographer, Pete Hudeck
While these guys and gals from Project 52 are sharing their adventures with you all, I am busy creating new content and preparing the Project 52 project and the new Lighting Essentials website. I love how much they share. Meet Pete Hudeck, another who has been with...
Project 52 Photographer Kathy Jan
Kathy Jan found Project 52... and while it was a bit daunting to her at first... she stuck to it, made the assignments - and more usually - and learned a great deal. Her work is now pretty darn fine. I think she has shown tremendous growth. Here is Kathy Jan in her...
Project 52 Photographer: Rob Davidson
Meet Photographer Rob Davidson, from New York City. Rob Davidson Rob Davidson Photography Website Email RobD3 on Flickr Facebook "For the past few years I have been clambering to gain knowledge and insight as a photographer. My hobby had taken that turn to become an...
Project 52 Photographer: Bret Doss
Meet Bret Doss, a Project 52 participant and a friend. I met Bret a while ago when I taught my first workshop in Seattle. He truly loves photography. Website Facebook Twitter "Project 52 presented a unique opportunity: ongoing instruction and critique each week for 52...
New Years : New Changes, New Attitudes, New Looks, New Projects
NOTE: POTTY MOUTH ALERT... Just in case I sound like all those 'oh-so-cool' women bloggers who drop f-bombs and tell us about their sex lives ... ick!" It's time for a change. it's time to get busy, change shit up, make new plans. Stop old habits and forge new ideas...
Project 52 Photographer: Ron Heusser
Meet Ron Heusser from Washington State. Ron is active in the Project 52 group. Project 52 Experience Ron Heusser Ron WA on Flickr "I'm a mechanical engineer for my day job, but have always had an interest in photography. I have pursued landscape shooting for the last...
Project 52 Photographer: Christopher Bersbach
Project 52 Photographer, Christopher Bersbach checks in with his thoughts on Project 52. "I had been a follower of Lighting Essentials, as well as several other online photography resources, for a while before Don started Project 52. s a self-taught photographer, I...
Project 52 Photographer: Don Fadel
Another Project 52 participant, Don Fadel, checks in from Florida. "First of all I would like to thank Don Giannatti (historically “WizWow”) for establishing Project 52 and taking the time to organize and critique the images. This was a major commitment on his part...
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Wizwow and LE
Thanks to everyone who took part in LE, the Project 52, all the workshops and my clients. Have the happiest of holiday seasons... And please remember, I am a drummer. 😉